Page 66 of Play The Game

Viola squints a little, glancing between us to try and spot the lie but it doesn’t exist. “Right. Sure. What have I done?”

I rub the back of my neck a little sheepishly, not having thought this out much. I wasn’t planning on liking the girl. I thought she’d be some rich bitch I’d just threaten and kidnap, but Viola is… kind of cool.

“Look, there’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to lay it out there,” I start, and Avery gives me a look.

“Let me, you’re not very… diplomatic. Viola, are you currently dating? Or hoping to date someone?”

She scoffs at Avery and makes her way over to the kitchen. “I’m not chasing after your boyfriends if that’s what this is about, and if you want to know who is, it’s the same dumbass as always. Honestly, I thought her panting after them last year was bad enough but Summers has found a whole new level of pathetic. Anyway, I have no interest in getting involved with taken guys, especially not those three.”

That’s it. I love her, too. Fuck the Coyote for making me kidnap her.

Avery smirks at the look I’m giving her. “No, someone else. Someone older, perhaps?”

Viola frowns as she pulls cups out of drawers and starts to make us all coffee. Another mark in her favor. Fuck, I should induct her and keep her safe myself.

“Maybe you should just let the Mounty be blunt about it, I’m not following you at all.”

When she holds a cup out to me I take a careful sip. Not bad. “Do you know a guy, around twenty, who’s tall as fuck, blond hair, brown eyes, good with a computer? Like, able to hack into the US Defense Force levels of good?”

Viola’s eyebrows twitch, an easy tell to spot. “You’re here about Jackson? Why do you need to know about him?”

Jackson.

I guess he kind of looks like a Jackson. I mean, it must be him. I can’t imagine there would be that many guys who look like him and can do what he does in the state. Fuck, at least I hope not.

“Are you interested in him? Crush or something?”

Viola sets her cup down on her table, wrapping her arms around herself defensively. “Why are you asking me this? If you’re going to try and use me against him, you’re out of luck. He’s already told me he’s not interested.”

I groan unintentionally. I hate relationship drama and this reeks of it. “Look, I need to take you to see him tonight. Something has come up, something life threatening, and you need to go see him. He’s… a friend of mine.”

Her eyes narrow at me when I pause. She hisses at me, voice scathing, “Are you fucking him too? Are the three guys crawling into your bed at all hours of the damn night not enough?”

Oh look, I found a nerve.

I raise a single hand up to stop Avery from coming to my defense, because I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s about to tear strips off of the girl. “I’m guessing you really like him and I assure you, whatever he said to you about not wanting you, he was fucking lying. I’ll let him talk his way off of your shit list. For now, can you just come with me? I just want to get you to him safely so I can crawl into my bed with whichever boyfriend of mine decides it’s his turn.”

I even wink at her to try to soften her up a little. Avery looks pissed but stays quiet, letting my words sink into the girl’s brain.

“Fine. He fucking owes me an explanation for this shit.”

Yes, he does.

It takes some convincing to get Viola to pack a bag, then we walk her down to the staff parking lot where Illi is waiting for us standing beside the most beautiful muscle car I’ve ever seen. I sneakily take a photo for Harley to drool over later.

Viola takes one look at the Butcher of the Bay and freezes, planting her feet into the gravel. “Is this a joke? I’m not getting into a car with that thug! Are you trying to extort my father for cash or something? I could have saved you the effort, you’ve picked the wrong kid. My younger sister is the favorite.”

I share a look with Avery, the quirk of her lip telling me she’s just made note of that little gem. I’m not sure what we’ll be extorting Senator Ayers for in the future, but we have him if we need.

“His name is Illi and he’s just driving you over there so stop looking worried. He’s my… foster brother,” I say, sharing a look with Illi but he’s quick to play along.

Technically, I did meet him in foster care, back when his name was still Johnny, his best friend was Matteo, and together they taught me the meaning of ride or die. Until, one day, they weren’t. My heart feels sore in my chest just thinking about it, but that’s just childish nostalgia for a reality that never really existed in the first place. I learned that the hard way.

“Come on, little girl, I’m glad to be of service.” Illi does a ridiculous little bow, and I snort with laughter watching it. He’s too fucking huge to look anything but hulking and intimidating.

“I’m not stupid, there’s no way I’m getting in that car,” Viola snaps, and I decide I love her a little less.

I hold my hand up to stop her from running off, then pull out my phone. I hit dial on the Coyote’s number.